VERBAL

ABILITY
Contents:
Synonyms & Composed by,
Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra
Antonyms, Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer
Training & Placement Cell,
Spellings, Madanapalle Institute of Technology
& Science (UGC Autonomous),
One Word Madanapalle- 517325
Substitutes,
Idioms & Phrases
 Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym

Synonyms No.
30
31
32
Alienate
Alleviate
Alliance
Transfer
Reduce
Union
Recover
Escalate
Separation

&
33 Ambiguous Uncertain Certain
34 Ameliorate Improve Spoil
35 Amiable Loveable Unattractive
36 Analogy Resemblance Difference
37 Antique Ancient Modern

Sl.
Antonyms
Root Word Synonym Antonym
38
39
40
Apparent
Approbation
Apprehend
Clear
Approval
Arrest
Hidden
Disapproval
Relax
41 Ardent Heated Cool
No. 42 Arrogant Haughty/ Humble
1 Abandon Leave Retain Imperious
2 Abase Humiliate Honour 43 Baffle Puzzle Clarify
3 Abate Reduce Increase 44 Barbarous Uncivilized Civilized
4 Abhor Dislike/ Like/ 45 Beguile Cheat Honesty
Dislike Approve 46 Benevolent Kind Egoistic
5 Abjure Disclaim Accept 47 Belittle Minimize Exaggerate
6 Aboriginal Irregular/ Regular/ 48 Bewilder Puzzle Enlighten
Unusual Usual
49 Biased Partial Unbiased
7 Abortive Futile/ Successful
50 Bigotry Bias Impartiality
Unsuccessful
51 Blasphemy Vulgarity Polite
8 Abridge Summarize Expand
52 Boisterous Noisy Calm
9 Abrupt Sudden Gentle
53 Brandish Flourish Suspend
10 Abscond Decamp/ Remain
54 Candid Impartial Partial
Run away
55 Canvas Investigate Refuse
11 Absolve Release Condemn
56 Ceremonious Formal Informal
12 Abstain Refrain Continue
57 Cessation Ending Beginning
13 Abundant Rich Poor
58 Chivalrous Heroic Cowardly
14 Abuse Injure Praise
59 Circumlocutio Euphemism/ Brevity/
15 Accelerate Quicken Retard
n Indirectness Directness
16 Accommodat Reconcile Refuse
60 Clamour Uproar Silence
e
61 Coalition Alliance Disunion
17 Accomplish Fulfil Fail
62 Coarse Rough Refined
18 Accord Agreement Disagreement
63 Collateral Indirect Direct
19 Accredited Authorized Unauthorized
64 Colossal Gigantic Small
20 Accumulate Collect Distribute
65 Commensurat Equivalent Unequal
21 Acquaintance Knowledge Unfamiliar
e
22 Acute Sharp Dull
66 Comprehend Understand Exclude/ Fail
23 Addicted Devoted Free
to perceive
24 Adhere Stick Undone
67 Comprehensi Inclusive/ Exclusive/
25 Adjacent Near Distant/
ve Extensive Narrow
Remote
68 Conceal Hide Reveal
26 Adjourn Postpone Advance
69 Conceal Allow Deny
27 Adoration Beautify/ Disfiguring
70 Concord Agreement Disagreement
Worship
71 Condemn Blame Praise
28 Affinity Alliance Dislike
72 Conjure Implore Command
29 Aggravate Intensify Diminish
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 1
 Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym
No. No.
73 Conspicuous Noticeable Insignificant 118 Felicity Bliss Sorrow
74 Contemptuou Disdainful Humble 119 Fervent Glowing Cool
s 120 Fictitious False Genuine
75 Contradictory Conflicting Harmonious 121 Figurative Typical Actual
76 Corroborate Strengthen Disapprove 122 Finite Limited Unlimited
77 Culmination Zenith Nadir 123 Forgo Sacrifice Demand
78 Dainty Delicious Inelegant 124 Fluctuate Vibrate Constant
79 Debase Humiliate Respect 125 Fragile Weak Strong
80 Debility Weakness Strength 126 Frivolous Foolish Serious
81 Deface Damage Improve 127 Frown Grimace Smile
82 Deformity Blemish Beautify 128 Futility Useless Useful
83 Demur Pause Agree 129 Gaiety Joyousness Sadness
84 Descend Decline Climb 130 Gallantry Courage Cowardice
85 Desecration Violation Sanctification 131 Gauche Unpolished Polite
/ Purification 132 Glutinous Sticky Liquid
86 Destitute Needy Well-to-do 133 Grandeur Greatness Sordidness
87 Desultory Random Orderly 134 Gratification Delight Disappointme
88 Deteriorate Decline Improve nt
89 Devoid Empty Full 135 Gullible Trusting Doubtful
90 Dexterity Skill Clumsiness 136 Harbour Shelter Banish/
91 Despotic Autocratic Lawful Remove
92 Diligence Care Laziness 137 Hapless Unfortunate Lucky
93 Discern Perceive Confuse 138 Harmony Agreement Disagreement
94 Disown Deny Accept 139 Hazardous Dangerous Safe
95 Disseminate Scatter Unite 140 Heed Attention Neglect
96 Dogmatic Authoritative Vague 141 Herculean Colossal Ease
97 Dwindle Reduce Expand 142 Homogeneous Uniform Mixed/
98 Earnest Eager Slack Heterogeneou
99 Eccentricity Oddity Commonness s
100 Eclipse Dim Illumine 143 Humane Gentle Cruel
101 Ecstasy Rapture Displeasure 144 Hostile Bellicose/ Friendly
102 Efficacy Competency Impotence Unfriendly
103 Embarrassme Humiliation Confidence 145 Humility Humbleness Arrogance
nt 146 Hypocrisy Deceit Honesty
104 Endorse Approve Oppose 147 Imbibe Absorb Discharge/
105 Endurance Sustain Relinquish Eject
106 Enormous Colossal Small 148 Immerse Submerge Draw out
107 Envy Jealous Goodwill 149 Immunity Freedom Liability
108 Escalate Increase Decrease 150 Impeach Accuse Forgive
109 Eternal Endless Temporary 151 Impediment Hindrance Liberty
110 Evasive Shuffling Honest 152 Impel Motivate Prevent
111 Exaggerate Amplify Minimize 153 Imposter Cheater Honest
112 Exalt Elevate Lower 154 Imprudence Thoughtlessn Carefulness
113 Exhale Evaporate Intake ess
114 Exile Banish Welcome 155 Imitate Copy Create
115 Exquisite Graceful Common 156 Inaccessible Remote Approachable
116 Fallacy Illusion Real 157 Incumbent Compulsory Unnecessary
117 Fastidious Particular Indifferent 158 Incite Arouse Discourage

© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 2
 Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym
No. No.
159 Industrious Laborious Lazy 205 Plague Harass Comfort
160 Inevitable Unavoidable Avoidable 206 Preamble Preface Conclusion
161 Induce Persuade Discourage 207 Precarious Risky Safe
162 Insanity Madness Sensibility/ 208 Predicate Affirm Deny
Sanity 209 Precipitate Expedite Delay
163 Intermission Stoppage Resume 210 Prejudiced Biased Unbiased
164 Intricate Complicated Simple 211 Prey Victim Hunter
165 Intuition Insight Calculation 212 Prodigal Extravagant Economic
166 Irksome Tiresome Pleasant 213 Profound Excess Shallow
167 Jeopardize Hazard Secure 214 Progeny Descendent Ancestors
168 Jubilant Rejoicing Despairing 215 Prolific Productive Barren
169 Kindle Ignite Darken 216 Prohibit Ban Allow/
170 Lament Mourn Rejoice Endorse
171 Lavish Excessive Restricted 217 Prone Inclined Upright
172 Legend Myth Fact 218 Propel Push Pull
173 Lethal Deadly Harmless 219 Prosecute Pursue Abandon
174 Luminous Bright Dark 220 Prototype Original Copy
175 Magnanimous Noble Mean 221 Provident Foreseeing Improvident
176 Melancholy Sad/ Gloomy Gay/ Joyous 222 Provisional Conditional Definite
177 Mercenary Hired Voluntary 223 Pungent Sharp Mild
178 Migrate Move Remain 224 Quell Calm Noisy
179 Miscellaneous Mixed Separate 225 Quench Extinguish Ignite
180 Monotonous Boring Cheerful 226 Radical Fundamental Superficial
181 Monstrous Horrible Ordinary 227 Rancid Sour Sweet
182 Mutable Changeable Settled 228 Raid Invasion Descend
183 Mutiny Revolt Loyalty 229 Rational Intelligent Irrational
184 Myth Legend Fact 230 Rebuff Rebuke Encourage
185 Nebulous Cloudy Clear 231 Reciprocal Mutual Selfish
186 Notorious Disreputable Reputable 232 Reckless Regardless Cautious
187 Nugatory Insignificant Important 233 Redundant Excessive Scanty
188 Oblivion Forgetfulness Memory 234 Relinquish Abandon Retain
189 Obnoxious Hateful Cheerful 235 Repulsive Disgusting Charming
190 Obsessed Addicted Natural 236 Resolute Determined Undecided
191 Officious Mischievous Harmless 237 Restraint Hindrance Freedom
192 Optimistic Hopeful Pessimistic/ 238 Retrospect Review Prospect
Cynical 239 Reveal Disclose Hide
193 Orifice Opening Ending 240 Revive Renew Depress
194 Outrageous Daring Timid 241 Ridiculous Absurd Serious
195 Pacific Peaceful Hostile 242 Righteousness Goodness Dishonesty
196 Palatable Tasty Tasteless 243 Robust Strong Thin
197 Palpable Tangible Intangible 244 Rupture Break Attachment
198 Paltry Little Sufficient 245 Sacrilegious Impious Pious
199 Paramount Supreme Subordinate 246 Sacred Blessed Temporal
200 Paucity Scarcity Abundance 247 Saucy Rude Polite
201 Pensive Sorrowful Happy 248 Sarcastic Biting Complimenta
202 Perennial Everlasting Temporary ry
203 Perseverance Steadiness Inconsistency 249 Scanty Insufficient Abundant
204 Petition Request Command 250 Sceptic Unbeliever Believer

© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 3
 Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym Sl. Root Word Synonym Antonym
No. No.
251 Sedate Calm Agitated 296 Uphold Defend Destroy
252 Semblance Likeness/ Unlikeness 297 Utopian Imaginary Real
Resemblance 298 Vacillation Hesitation Decision
253 Sensual Fleshy Spiritual 299 Vague Uncertain Certain
254 Servile Slavish Masterly 300 Vain Worthless Useful
255 Slender Slim Fat 301 Valiant Brave Cowardly
256 Sloth Laziness Active 302 Vehement Violent/ Weak/ Cold/
257 Sober Moderate Rough Boisterous Lean
258 Solace Console Irritation 303 Veil Screen Uncover
259 Solemn Formal Informal 304 Velocity Rapidity Slowness
260 Solicitude Anxiety Careless 305 Venerable Grave Light
261 Solitary Lone Sociable 306 Verbose Wordy Silent
262 Sovereign Royal/ Regal Ineffectual 307 Vicious Faulty Perfect
263 Splendid Gorgeous Shabby 308 Viable Fruitful Aborted
264 Spontaneous Voluntary Involuntary 309 Vigour Strength Weakness
265 Spurious Illegitimate Genuine 310 Vindictive Revengeful Benevolent
266 Stake Risk Avoid 311 Vivid Lively/ Clear Dull
267 Staunch Firm/ Unsteady 312 Vogue Trend Outdated
Resolute 313 Voracious Greedy Satisfied
268 Steadfast Fixed Unfixed 314 Vulnerable Exposed Guarded
269 Stimulate Arouse Calm 315 Wander Roam Rest
270 Stout Strong Weak 316 Warrant Authorize Forbid
271 Stringent Tight Relaxing 317 Wearisome Tiring Restful
272 Stubborn Inflexible Adaptable 318 Whimsical Freakish Steady
273 Sublime High Low 319 Wistful Thoughtful Cheerful
274 Subtle Nice Rough 320 Wretched Unfortunate Fortunate
275 Sumptuous Costly Cheap 321 Wrinkle Fold Smooth
276 Susceptible Sensitive Insensitive 322 Yearn Long Satisfied
277 Tacit Implicit Explicit 323 Yield Surrender Resist
278 Tangible Substantial Unreal 324 Yoke Bondage Liberty
279 Tantamount Equivalent Non- 325 Zeal Passion Weakness
Equivalent 326 Zenith Climax Nadir
280 Tedious Irksome Delightful 327 Zest Energy Exhaustion
281 Terrestrial Worldly Heavenly
282 Testimony Witness Denial
283 Theatrical Dramatically Real
284 Thrifty Economical Uneconomic
285 Thwart Oppose Allow
286 Tipsy Intoxicated Sober
287 Torment Pain Tranquil
288 Tranquil Peaceful Agitated
289 Treachery Disloyalty Loyalty
290 Trivial Petty Significant
291 Triumph Victory Fail
292 Turbulent Violent Peaceful
293 Turmoil Hurry Quiet
294 Tyrant Autocrat Sovereign
295 Unanimous Harmonious Disagreeing

© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 4
 Sl. Correct Spelling (S)
No.
30 Carefully
Spelling 31
32
33
Catalogue
Category
Cemetery

Correction 34
35
36
Challenge
Changeable
Circumstances
Sl. Correct Spelling (S) 37 Column
No. 38 Collectible
1 Acceptable 39 Committed
2 Accommodate 40 Committee
3 Accordance 41 Conscience
4 Acknowledge 42 Conscientious
5 Acquire 43 Competent
6 Adjournment 44 Competition
7 Adequately 45 Complementary
8 Adolescent 46 Concealment
9 Advertisement 47 Conciliation
10 Aggregable 48 Condemn
11 Alleviate 49 Controversial
12 Amateur Convenient
13 Amelioration 50 Consignment
14 Anticipated 51 Consistent
15 Apparent 52 Courtesy
16 Apparatus 53 Correspondence
17 Achieve 54 Criticized
18 Argument 55 Curiosity
19 Ascertain 56 Daiquiri
20 Assassination 57 Defendant
21 Atheist 58 Definitely
22 Attendance 59 Definition
23 Awkward 60 Discipline
24 Bargain 61 Demurrage
25 Believe 62 Denoting
26 Beginning 63 Depreciation
27 Beneficial 64 Depression
28 Bellwether 65 Diarrhea
29 Bureaucracy 66 Dinner
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 5
 Sl. Correct Spelling (S) Sl. Correct Spelling (S)
No. No.
67 Dining 105 Government
68 Disease 106 Grammar
69 Discrepancy 107 Grateful
70 Dumbbell 108 Guarantee
71 Efficiency 109 Handkerchief
72 Eligible 110 Harass
73 Embarrassed 111 Height
74 Entanglement 112 Heighten
75 Enumeration 113 Harmony
76 Envelope 114 Hierarchy
77 Equipment 115 Honour
78 Equipped 116 Humorous
79 Erroneously 117 Ignorance
80 Exaggerate 118 Illogical
81 Exhilarate 119 Immediate
82 Exceed 120 Immense
83 Excellent 121 Inadvertently
84 Existence 122 Inadaptable
85 Expense 123 Inadmissible
86 Explanation 124 Inalienable
87 Excel 125 Inappeasable
88 Familiar 126 Independent
89 Famine 127 Indispensable
90 Fascinate 128 Inoculate
91 Fascist 129 Intelligence
92 February 130 Interruption
93 Fiery 131 Install
94 Financial 132 Installed
95 Financially 133 Instalment
96 Foreseen 134 Increment
97 Foreign 135 Invariably
98 Forfeit 136 Irritation
99 Fulfil 137 Irritant
100 Fulfilled 138 Irrevocable
101 Gauge 139 Itinerant
102 Gazette 140 Itinerary
103 Genuine 141 Jealous
104 Governor 142 Jeopardy
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 6
 Sl. Correct Spelling (S) Sl. Correct Spelling (S)
No. No.
143 Jewelry 181 Neighbor
144 Jubilee 182 Nuisance
145 Judicious 183 Notified
146 Jurisdiction 184 Noticeable
147 Juvenile 185 Nullified
148 Juxtaposition 186 Occasion
149 Kernel 187 Occasional
150 Kindergarten 188 Occurrence
151 Knock 189 Occurring
152 Leisurely 190 Occurred
153 Liaison 191 Omission
154 Liberate 192 Omitted
155 License 193 Opportunity
156 Literacy 194 Oppressed
157 Lounge 195 Optimistic
158 Lousiness 196 Parallel
159 Luster 197 Parliament
160 Luxury 198 Paroled
161 Luxuriously 199 Passenger
162 Lymph 200 Peculiarity
163 Manageable 201 Permanent
164 Machinery 202 Permissible
165 Maintain 203 Personnel
166 Maintenance 204 Pharaoh
167 Magnificent 205 Pleasant
168 Manoeuvre 206 Possession
169 Medieval 207 Plaintiff
170 Mileage 208 Playwright
171 Millennium 209 Politeness
172 Miniature 210 Possession
173 Miniscule 211 Precede
174 Mischievous 212 Privilege
175 Missile 213 Procedure
176 Misspell 214 Proceed
177 Mortgage 215 Pronunciation
178 Mysterious 216 Propaganda
179 Necessary 217 Psychology
180 Nuclear 218 Publically
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 7
 Sl. Correct Spelling (S) Sl. Correct Spelling (S)
No. No.
219 Questionnaire 257 Sergeant
220 Quantum 258 Session
221 Quarantine 259 Souvenir
222 Quotient 260 Summon
223 Receive 261 Stubbornness
224 Receipt 262 Suburban
225 Recommendation 263 Supersede
226 Rehearsal 264 Superintendent
227 Repeat 265 Summarized
228 Repetition 266 Skill
229 Reference 267 Skillful
230 Referring 268 Skilled
231 Recuperate 269 Technique
232 Regenerate 270 Tendency
233 Relevant 271 Threshold
234 Relinquish 272 Tariff
235 Remnant 273 Truly
236 Remedy 274 Twelfth
237 Repair 275 Tyranny
238 Reparable 276 Tuition
239 Repercussive 277 Tutor
240 Replenish 278 Unanimous
241 Reprieve 279 Unanimously
242 Requisite 280 Unprecedented
243 Reservoir 281 Unsolicited
244 Resigned 282 Undoubtedly
245 Rehabilitate 283 Until
246 Reinstate 284 Usually
247 Reinforced 285 Vacancy
248 Reiterate 286 Vacant
249 Rhyme 287 Vacuum
250 Rhythm 288 Visibility
251 Rudiment 289 Vicissitude
252 Rupture 290 Verbatim
253 Sandwich 291 Versatile
254 Satellite 292 Virtue
255 Scarcity 293 Vocation
256 Schedule 294 Vacation
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 8
 Sl. Correct Spelling (S)
No.
295 Vociferate
296 Voyage
One Word
297 Weather
298 Whether
299 Welcome
300 Warrant
Substitutes
Sl. Description (S) One Word
301 Width
No. Substitution
302 Wrapped
1
303 Wrestle An act of Abdication
304 Wretchedness abdicating or
305 Xylem renouncing the
306 Xenon throne
307 Xenophobic 2
An annual Almanac
308 Xerophytes calendar
309 Yeastiness
containing
310 Youthful
important dates
311 Youthfully
and statistical
312 Yogurt
information
313 Zillionaire
such as
astronomical
data and tide
tables
3
A cold- Amphibian
blooded
vertebrate
animal that
is born in
water and
breathes
with gills
4
A story, Allegory
poem, or
picture that
can be
interpreted
to reveal a
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 9
 hidden ly about
meaning, God or
typically a sacred
moral or things;
political one profane talk
5 9
A statement Axiom The Chronology
or arrangement
proposition of events or
on which an dates in the
abstractly order of
defined their
structure is occurrence
based 10
A vigorous Crusade
6
A nation or Belligerent campaign for
person engaged political,
in war or social, or
conflict, as religious
recognized by change
international 11
Lasting for a Ephemeral
law very short time
7 12
An Biopsy Spoken or done Extempore
examination without
of tissue preparation
removed 13
Release Exonerate
from a someone from
living body a duty or
to discover obligation
the 14
Fond of Gregarious
presence,
company
cause, or
15
extent of a Making marks Indelible
disease that cannot be
8 removed
The action Blasphemy 16
or offence Incapable of Infallible
of speaking making
sacrilegious mistakes or
being wrong
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 10
 17 sacred
Certain to Inevitable
26
happen A position Sinecure
18 requiring
A sentimental Nostalgia
longing or little or no
wistful work but
affection for a giving the
period in the holder
past status or
19 financial
A solution or Panacea
benefit
remedy for all
27
difficulties or A thing that is Souvenir
diseases kept as a
20 reminder of a
A doctrine Pantheism
person, place,
which
or event
identifies God
28
with the An imaginary Utopia
universe ideal society
21 free of poverty
Excessively Pedantic
and suffering
concerned with
29
minor details or Denoting a sin Venial
rules that is not
22 regarded as
The practice of Plagiarism
taking someone depriving the
else's work or soul of divine
ideas and grace
passing them 30
In exactly the Verbatim
off as one's same words as
own were used
23 originally
Safe to drink Potable
31
24 A state of Anarchy
The emblems Regalia
disorder due
or insignia of
royalty to absence
25 or non-
Violation or Sacrilege recognition
misuse of what ofauthority
is regarded as or other
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 11
 controlling a state,
systems typically
32 through
A form of Aristocracy
elected
government in
which power is representati
held by the ves
nobility 37
A state, Gerontocracy
33 society, or
A system of Autocracy
government by group governed
one person by old people
with absolute 38
A state or Kakistocracy
power country run by
34 the worst, least
A self- Autonomy
governing qualified, or
country or most
region unscrupulous
35 citizens
A system of Bureaucracy
government 39
Government by Neocracy
in which new or
most of the inexperienced
important hands
decisions 40
Government by Ochlocracy
are taken by the populace
state 41
officials A small Oligarchy
rather than group of
by elected people
representati having
ves control of a
36 country or
A system of Democracy organization
government 42
by the Government by Plutocracy
whole the wealthy
population 43
Government Secular
or all the not connected
eligible with religious
members of or spiritual
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 12
 matters species
44 51
A form of Monarchy A place or Arena
government scene of
with a monarch activity,
at the head debate, or
45 conflict
A political Thearchy
52
system based A collection of Arsenal
on government weapons and
of men by God military
46 equipment
A collection Archives
53
of historical An institution Asylum
documents for the care of
or records people who are
providing mentally ill
information 54
A hole or Burrow
about a tunnel dug by a
place, small animal,
institution, especially a
or group of rabbit, as a
people dwelling
47 55
A large cage, Aviary A collection of Cache
building, or items of the
enclosure for same type
keeping birds
stored in a
in
hidden or
48
A building Abattoir inaccessible
where animals place
are butchered 56
49 A public room Casino
A place where Apiary or building
bees are kept; a where
collection of gambling
beehives games are
50 played
A building Aquarium
containing 57
A large burial Cemetery
tanks of live ground,
fish of different especially one
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 13
 not in a bedroom for a
churchyard number of
58 people in a
A room in a Cloakroom
school or
public institution
building 64
where The nest of a Drey
outdoor squirrel,
clothes or typically in the
luggage may form of a mass
be left of twigs in a
59 tree
A place where Crematorium 65
a dead person's A room or Gymnasium
body is building
cremated equipped for
60 gymnastics,
a Christian Convent
games, and
community
other physical
of nuns
exercise
living
66
together A storehouse Granary
under for threshed
monastic grain
vows 67
A large Hangar
61 building with
Nursery Creche
where an extensive
babies and floor area,
young typically for
children are housing
cared for aircraft.
during the 68
A box or Hutch
working day
cage,
62 typically
A stoppered Decanter
glass container with a wire
into which mesh front,
wine or spirit is for keeping
decanted rabbits or
63 other small
A large Dormitory
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 14
 domesticate 77
A large natural Reservoir
d animals
or artificial
69 lake used as a
A place in a Infirmary
large institution source of water
for the care of supply
those who are 78
A small kitchen Scullery
ill
or room at the
70
A small shelter Kennel back of a house
for a dog used for
71 washing dishes
A place where Lair
wild animal and another
live dirty household
72 work
A place where Mint 79
coins, medals, A close-fitting Sheath
or tokens are cover for the
made blade of a knife
73 or sword
A collection of Menagerie 80
wild animals A room or Sanatorium
kept in building for
captivity for sick children in
exhibition a boarding
74 school
A building or Monastery 81
buildings A place where Tannery
occupied by a animal hides
community of are tanned
monks living 82
A large, tall Wardrobe
under religious cupboard in
vows which clothes
75 may be hung or
A place where Morgue stored
bodies are kept 83
for A group of Battery
identification guns or
76 missile
A piece of Orchard
launchers
enclosed land
planted with operated
fruit trees together at
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 15
 one place 92
A group of Claque
84 followers hired
A large bundle Bale
bound for to applaud at a
storage or performance
transport 93
A series of Constellation
85 stars
A large Bevy
gathering of 94
A funeral Cortege
people of a
procession
particular type
95
86 A group of Congregation
An Bouquet
worshippers
arrangement of
96
flowers that is A herd or flock Drove
usually given of animals
as a present being driven in
87 a body
A family of Brood
97
young animals A small fleet of Flotilla
88 ships or boats
A group of Cache
98
things that A small growth Grove
have been of trees without
hidden in a underbrush
secret place 99
A community Hamlet
89
A group of Caravan of people
people, smaller than a
typically village
with 100
A group of Herd
vehicles or cattle or sheep
animals or other
travelling domestic
together mammals
90 101
A closed Caucus A large group Horde
political of people
meeting 102
A temporary Posse
91
An exclusive Clique police force
circle of people 103
with a common A large number Shoal
purpose of fish
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 16
 swimming the existence of
together God
104 113
A strong and Torrent A person Arbitrator
fast-moving appointed by
stream of water two parties to
or other liquid solve a dispute
105 114
One who is not Agnostic One who leads Ascetic
sure about an austere life
God's existence 115
One who does Amateur
106
A person who Arsonist a thing for
deliberately pleasure and
sets fire to a not as a
building profession
107 116
One who does Amateur One who can Ambidextrous
a thing for either hand
pleasure and with ease
not as a 117
An Bohemian
profession
unconventional
108
One who can Ambidextrous style of living
use either hand 118
One who is bad Cacographer
with ease
in spellings
109
One who Auditor 119
One who feeds Cannibal
makes an
on human flesh
official
examination of 120
A person who Chauvinist
accounts is blindly
110 devoted to an
A person who Anarchist
believes in or idea/ A person
tries to bring displaying
about a state of aggressive or
lawlessness exaggerated
111 patriotism
A person who Apostate 121
has changed his A critical judge Connoisseur
faith of any art and
112 craft
One who does Atheist 122
not believe in Persons living Contemporari
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 17
 at the same es serious) in art,
time science and
123 literature
One who is Convalescent
132
recovering One who is for Epicure
health after pleasure of
illness eating and
124 drinking
A girl/woman Coquette
133
who flirts with One who often Egotist
man talks of his
125 achievements
A person who Cosmopolitan
134
regards the Someone who Emigrant
whole world as leaves one
his country country to
126 settle in
One who is a Cynosure
another
centre of
135
attraction A man who is Effeminate
127 womanish in
One who Cynic
his habits
sneers at the
136
beliefs of One hard to Fastidious
others please (very
128 selective in his
A leader or Demagogue
habits)
orator who 137
espoused One who runs Fugitive
the cause of away from
the common justice
people 138
One who is Fanatic
129 filled with
A person Debonair
having a excessive
sophisticated enthusiasm in
charm religious
matters
130
A leader who Demagogue 139
sways his One who Fatalist
followers by believes in fate
his oratory 140
A lover of Gourmand
131 good food
A dabbler (not Dilettante

© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 18
 141 being tampered
Conferred as an Honorary
with
honour
151
142 One who is Insolvent
A person who Heretic
unable to pay
acts against
his debts
religion
152
143 A person who Lunatic
A person of Highbrow
is mentally ill
intellectual or
153
erudite tastes A person who Misanthrope
144 dislikes
A patient with Hypochondria
humankind and
imaginary c
avoids human
symptoms and
society
ailments
154
145 A person who Mercenary
A person who Henpeck
primarily
is controlled by
wife concerned with
146 making money
One who Indefatigable at the expense
shows of ethics
sustained 155
enthusiastic Someone in Narcissist
action with love with
himself
unflagging
156
vitality One who Numismatist
147 collect coins as
Someone who Iconoclast hobby
attacks
157
cherished ideas A person who Philogynist
or traditional likes or
institutions admires
148 women
One who does Introvert
158
not express A lover of Philanthropist
himself freely mankind
149 159
Who behaves Immoral A person who Polyglot
without moral speaks more
principles than one
150 language
A person who Impregnable
160
is incapable of One who lives Recluse
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 19
 in solitude words
161 written in
Someone who Somnambulist
walks in sleep memory of
162 a person
A person who Stoic who has
is indifferent to died
the pains and 169
pleasures of Killing of one's Filicide
life son or daughter
163 170
A scolding Termagant Destruction or Foeticide
nagging bad- abortion of a
tempered fetus
woman 171
Killing of one's Fratricide
164 brother or sister
A person who Uxorious
shows a great 172
Killing of a Genocide
or excessive large group of
fondness for people
one's wife 173
165 Killing of one Homicide
One who Virtuoso person by
possesses another
outstanding 174
technical Killing of Infanticide
ability in a infants
particular art 175
Burial of a Interment
or field corpse in a
166 grave or tomb
A solemn Cortege
176
procession, Killing of one's Matricide
especially for a mother
funeral 177
A room or Mortuary
167
A poem of Elegy building in
serious which dead
reflection, bodies are kept
typically a 178
lament for the A news article Obituary
dead that reports the
recent death of
168
A phrase or Epitaph a person
form of
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 20
 179 190
Killing of a Parricide The Botany
parent or other scientific
near relative study of the
180 physiology,
Killing of one's Patricide
father structure,
181 genetics,
An Postmortem ecology,
examination of distribution,
a dead body to classificatio
determine the
n, and
cause of death
economic
182
Action of Regicide importance
killing a king of plants
183 191
Killing of one's Sororicide A person who Cartographer
sister draws or
184 produces maps
Act of Suicide
intentionally 192
A person who Calligrapher
causing one's writes beautiful
own death writing
185 193
Killing of one's Uxoricide A person Choreographe
wife who r
186 composes
The medieval Alchemy
forerunner of the sequence
chemistry of steps and
187 moves for a
A person who Anchor
performance
presents a
radio/television of dance
programme 194
A person Chauffeur
188 employed to
One who Anthropologis
studies the t drive a private
evolution of or hired car
mankind 195
A person Compere
189 who
A person who Astronaut
is trained to introduces
travel in a the
spacecraft performers
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 21
 or use of sunlight
contestants 204
The art or Horticulture
in a variety practice of
show garden
196 cultivation and
A keeper or Curator
custodian of a management
museum or 205
One who Invigilator
other collection supervises in
197 the
The branch of Chronobiolog
biology y examination
concerned with hall
206
cyclical The theory or Jurisprudence
physiological philosophy of
phenomena law
198 207
A secret or Cypher A person who Lexicographer
disguised way compiles
of writing dictionaries
199 208
The study of Demography The scientific Odontology
statistics study of the
200 structure and
The use of the Dactylology diseases of
fingers and teeth
hands to 209
communicate One who Radio Jockey
and convey presents a radio
programme
ideas
210
201 The art of Rhetoric
A person who Florist
effective or
sells and
persuasive
arranges cut
speaking or
flowers
writing
202
A line of Genealogy 211
The branch of Petrology
descent traced
science
continuously
from an concerned with
ancestor the origin,
203 structure, and
The therapeutic Heliotherapy composition of
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 22
 rocks Frogs
212 223
One who study Psephologist The sound of Creak
the elections Crickets
and trends in 224
The sound of Gibber
voting
Monkeys
213
An artist who Sculptor 225
The sound of Grunt
makes
Camels
sculptures.
226
214 The sound of Hoot
The scientific Zoology
Owls
study of the
227
behaviour, The sound of Honk
structure, Penguins
physiology, 228
The sound of Moo
classification, Cattle
and distribution 229
of animals The sound of Neigh
215 Horses
The branch of Acoustics 230
physics The sound of Pipe
concerned with Nightingales
the properties 231
The sound of Quack
of sound Ducks
216 232
The sound of Bellow The sound of Screech
Alligators Parrots
217 233
The sound of Bell The sound of Squeak
Deers Rats
218 234
The sound of Caw The sound of Twitter
Crows Birds
219 235
The sound of Cackle The sound of Trumpet
Geese Elephants
220 236
The sound of Cluck The sound of Whine
Hens Mosquitoes
221
The sound of Click
Remember there is no SUCCESS
Dolphins
222 without HARDWORK
The sound of Croak
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 23
 Example - It was really difficult to find the i

Idioms & nformation even after applying the whole ba

g of tricks.

Phrases 5. Deliver the goods -

Meaning - Do what is expected or promised.
Example - I have given my car to a new
1. Acid Test-
mechanic for repair, hope he delivers the
Meaning - Acid test proves the effectiveness
goods.
of something.
Example - I practiced hard at the dance
sessions but the acid test will come when the
6. Fine-tooth comb -
master will assess our solo performances.
Meaning - Examining something carefully
to not miss out any details.
2. Cut the ground from under feet-
Meaning - When you cut the ground from
under someone's feet, you do something whi
Example - The boss examined my report
ch weakens their position.
with a fine tooth comb before submitting it to
Example - When team India hit more than
the senior management.
350 runs in the ODI, they cut the ground fro
m under the opponent's feet.

7. Explore all avenues-

3. Chase your tail-
Meaning - Trying out every possibility to get
Meaning - Spending a lot of time and energy
a result.
doing a lot of things but actually achieving
Example - It is a difficult thing to do but if
too little.
we really want it done, we must explore all a
Example - He's been chasing his tail all
venues.
week collecting data but the report is still not
ready
8. Fast track something -
Meaning - Rating something higher on your
priority list to achieve the desired result. Ex
4. Whole bag of tricks -
ample - In view of the seriousness of the
Meaning - Means trying all the clever means
crime, the civil society is pressing up on a
to achieve something.
fast track decision from the court.

9 . Get ducks in a row -

© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 24
Meaning - Getting your things well
organized.
Example - To ensure a successful product
launch, we must get our ducks in a row.
10. Get the show on the road -
Meaning - Putting up a plan or idea into
action.
Example - Now that we have completed all
the legal formalities, let's get the show on the
road.
11. Keep your fingers on the pulse -
Meaning - Being constantly aware of the
most recent developments.
Example - An entrepreneur must keep his
fingers on the pulse of the market to be succe
ssful.
12. Mean business -
Meaning - Being serious about what you ann
ounce.
Example - Now that all our policies about
work are put up on intranet, we mean
business.
13. Think on your feet -
Meaning - Adjusting quickly to changes and
making fast decisions.
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Example - A good sales man must be able to
think on his feet to close the deal.
14. Sail through something -
Meaning - Being successful in doing
something without difficulty.
Example - The presentation at the national
conference was extremely important for the
company. We sailed through it.
15. Tricks of the trade:
Meaning - Clever or expert way of doing
something.
Example - Being into the construction
business for last 10 years, I know all tricks of
the trade.
16. Not let grass grow under feet -
Meaning - Don't delay in getting something
done.
Example - As soon as he finished all the
registration formalities, he put the house on
sale. He doesn't let the grass grow under his
feet.
17. Work like a charm -
Meaning - Works very well or has the
desired effect.
Example - I had cloves from my sore throat
and they worked like a charm.
18. Back-room boys -
25
Meaning - People who perform important w
ork but have no contact with the public.
Example - Our back room boys deserve
applause for the success of this
advertisement.
19. Dead wood -
Meaning - People or things which are no
longer useful or necessary.
Example - The Company bought in a lot of
new computers. They no longer want the
dead woods.
20. Get the axe -
Meaning - lose the job.
Example - The projects team was undergoin
g a major restructuring, recruitment executiv
es were the first to get the axe.
21. Plum job -
Meaning - Desirable position which is well-
paid and considered relatively easy.
Example - This looks like a plum job but it
has its own bunch of complications.
22. Shape up or ship out -
Meaning - This expression is used to warn s
omeone that if they do not improve their
ways, they will have to leave their job.
Example - When Tom started neglecting the
customers, he was told to shape up or ship
out.
23. Golden handshake -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Big sum of money given to a pers
on when they leave a company or retire.
Example - The management of various PSU
s wanted to cut down on the man power. The
y offered a golden hand shake to many of
their aged employees.
24. Separate sheep from goats -
Meaning - Examining a group of people and
deciding their suitability
Example - Audition test was conducted by
the director to separate sheep from goats.
25. Waiting in the wings -
Meaning - Waiting for an opportunity to
take action, mostly to replace someone else
in their job.
Example - The senior manager is going to
retire in next 2 months. Two of his juniors
who are waiting
in the wings will have a fierce competition.
26. Eat, sleep and breathe something -
Meaning - Being so enthusiastic and passion
ate about something that you think about it
all the time.
Example - My son has recently learnt cyclin
g. He eats, sleeps and breathes it now.
27. With bells on -
Meaning - When you are delighted and
eager to go somewhere, you are said to go
with bells on.
26
Example - The New Year party at the beach
is most awaited. I will be there - with bells
on.
28. Fever pitch -
Meaning - When a feeling is very intense an
d exciting, it is said to be at a fever pitch.
Example - His love for music had reached a
fever pitch before he became a world known
musician.
29. Blood, sweat and tears -
Meaning - Something that requires a lot of
effort and hard work.
Example - Being the team of Indian cricket
team is not just a matter of luck for him, it is
his blood, sweat and tears which has
got him here.
30. Have on the brain -
Meaning - Thinking or talking about it all da
y long.
Example - He has just got engaged. Now, he
has his fiance on his brain all the time.
31. Fling yourself into -
Meaning - Doing something with a lot of
energy and enthusiasm.
Example - Flinging himself into the exercise
routine is the reason for his good physique.
32. Raring to go -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Being very eager and enthusiastic
about the idea of doing something.
Example - My kids wish to see the animals.
They are raring to go to zoo.
33. Xerox subsidy -
Meaning - Using the office photocopier for
personal use. Example - The office now has
a strict policy about Xerox subsidy.
34. Get a grip on yourself -
Meaning - Controlling your feelings to deal
with a situation.
Example - Reema saw her jewelry and cash
missing from the almirah. After the initial
shock, she got a grip on herself and called
up the police.
35. Hang on by fingernails -
Meaning - Continuing to do something in a
very difficult situation.
Example - The market of watches has suffer
ed a big loss after the arrival of mobile
phones. The survivors
are just hanging on by their fingernails.
36. Pull out all the stops -
Meaning - Doing everything you can to
make something successful.
Example - The deadline for the project is
fast arriving; we have pulled out all the stops
for timely completion.
37. Buckle down -
Meaning - Doing some hard work with deter
mination and full attention.
27
Example - Getting through the exam for
civil services is possible when you have
buckled down yourself.
38. First out of the gate -
Meaning - Being the first one to make a start
at something.
Example - John and his friends had decided
to voice their opinion against the new
economic policy. John was the first
one to be out of the gate.
39. Going places -
Meaning - Exhibiting talent and ability that
will lead to a successful future.
Example - Rakesh was a performer at the
school sports club. It was obvious that he
was going places.
40. Have one's heart set on -
Meaning - Possessing a determination to
obtain something.
Example - He has not become a renowned
cardiologist just by chance. He has his heart
set on it after his father passed away
with a cardiac arrest.
41. Make headway -
Meaning - Progress in what you are trying to
achieve.
Example - The police have made headway
with their investigation in the terror attack on
the city last Friday.
42. Punch above one's weight-
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Performing beyond your ability.
Example - He was not the best swimmer
around but he could win the gold medal at
the state swimming competition by working
hard and punching
above his weight in the finals.
43. Sink your teeth into -
Meaning - doing something with a lot of
energy and enthusiasm.
Example - Marie joined the badminton
coaching classes. She sank her teeth into the
practice sessions.
44. Stand one's ground -
Meaning - Maintaining your position.
Example - He stood his ground in support of
his friend in spite of several family
interferences.
45. Close to home -
Meaning - A comment which is true and ma
kes you uncomfortable is close to home.
Example - Tom's comment about his friend's
unethical activities was quite close to home.
He looked quite embarrassed.
46. Carry the torch for -
Meaning - Having strong feelings for
someone who cannot be yours.
Example - He has been carrying a torch for
Mamta, who is now married to Nitin, since
they studied together in college.
47. Cork up something -
28
Meaning - Failing to express your emotions.
Example - She did not let her grief pour out
when her father passed away. It’s not good
for her to cork up his feelings.
48. Cut to the quick -
Meaning - Hurting someone deeply or offen
ding them.
Example - Joe had worked for 10 years with
all his loyalty for his company. He was cut to
the quick
when his boss held him responsible for the
theft.
49. Fish out of water -
Meaning - Feeling uncomfortable in
unfamiliar surroundings.
Example - Being French, I felt like a fish out
of water in the group of Japanese.
50. Bee in one's bonnet -
Meaning - Carrying an idea which
constantly occupies your thoughts.
Example - She is not happy in Africa. She
has a bee in
the bonnet about moving to Dubai.
51. Deep down -
Meaning - Describing what a person really
feels deep inside or what is he like.
Example - He appears to be indifferent to
the success or failure of his children but deep
down he is highly concerned.
52. Have your heart in the right place -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Refers to a person with good
intentions; even though the results are not
that impressive.
Example - The dinner she had cooked wasn't
the best but she had her heart in the right
place.
53. Groan inwardly -
Meaning - Refers to a feeling where you
want to express despair, disapproval or distre
ss, but you keep quite.
Example - She was quite disappointed at the
sarcastic remark by her friend but looking at
the situation sh groaned inwardly.
54. Beard the lion in his den -
Meaning - Challenge someone in his own
area.
Example - If he doesn't come to see me
today, I'll have to beard the lion in his den.
55. Keep a stiff upper lip -
Meaning - Refers to a person who doesn't
show off his emotions.
Example - He heard the news about his fathe
r's demise but kept a stiff upper lip.
56. Go bananas -
Meaning - Refers to someone who behaves
in a crazy way out of emotions. Example -
Your decision to go abroad for a year will ma
ke your family go bananas.
57. Lump in your throat -
29

Meaning - Refers to a tight feeling in your
throat because of an emotion like sadness or
gratitude.
Example - After all the hardships, I saw my
son winning a gold medal today - I had a
lump in my throat.
58. Hard as nails -
Meaning - Refers to a person without sentim
ents and sympathy for anyone. Example -
He has become as hard as a nail after his
brother was brutally murdered.
59. Lick one's wounds -
Meaning - Trying to regain their confidence
or boost up the spirits after a defeat.
Example - Raja is licking his wounds after
being dropped from the Indian Cricket Team.
60. Proud as a peacock -
Meaning - Refers to an extremely proud
person.
Example - His son is has finally become a
doctor. He is as proud as a peacock.
61. Tongue-tied -
Meaning - Difficulty in expressing yourself
because of nervousness or embarrassment.
Example - As her prospective in laws came
to see her, she was completely tongue tied.
62. Look on the bright side -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - View an unpleasant situation in a
positive light.
Example - You met with an accident but
look on the bright side - you managed to get
away just with some bruises.
63. Swallow one's pride -
Meaning - Accepting something humiliating
or embarrassing.
Example - When his son was caught
cheating in the exam. He had to swallow his
pride and meet the principal.
64. Makes your flesh crawl -
Meaning - Something that makes you feel
disgusting or nervous. Example - The sight
of the accident made my flesh crawl.
65. Speak volumes -
Meaning - Expresses a reaction without
words.
Example - She came to pick me at the
station at an odd hour. Her actions spoke vol
umes about her brevity.
66. Not turn a hair -
Meaning - Refers to not exhibiting any
emotion where it is expected. Example - He
didn't turn a hair even after his office was
raided by the CBI.
67. Reduce to tears -
Meaning - Getting into tears because of
some one's behavior.
30
Example - Her best friend stopped talking to
her. This reduced her to tears.
68. In the bag -
Meaning - Refers to a situation when you ar
e sure that success is sure.
Example - The wickets of opponent team
fell down very fast,
victory seemed to be in the bag at the end of
25 over.
69. Blow up in face -
Meaning - Refers to a situation when a plan
or project suddenly fails.
Example - It was difficult to get a place in
the train to Mumbai. It blew up in the face
when a train de-railed and
blocked the track.
70. Bottom fell out -
Meaning - Refers to a situation when a plan
or project fails.
Example - When the police announced a red
alert in the city, the bottom fell out of their
plan to hold a rally.
71.Cake not worth the candle -
Meaning - Refers to something in which
result vs. efforts are too less.
Example - He worked very hard to organize
the party but very few guests walked in. The
cake wasn't worth the candle.
72. Chance one's arm -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Deciding to do something even
though the chances of success are very little.
Example - She knew there was little chance
of getting through the audition test but she
decided to chance her arm.
73. Come up roses -
Meaning - Successful end results even thoug
h there may be some initial hiccups.
Example - After initial hiccups, the project
seems to be coming up roses.
74. Cook someone's goose -
Meaning - Spoil other person's chances of
success.
Example - When the opponent team saw
Indian batsmen taking wicket after wicket,
they realized that their goose was cooked.
75. Cut one's own throat -
Meaning - Doing something that will cause
your own failure.
Example - Raghav is not sincere in the class
since the beginning. He is cutting his own
throat.
76. Foot in the door -
Meaning - Small but good start with a
possibility for a bright future.
Example - With customers coming in, his
new venture has got a foot in the door.
77. Go great guns -
31
Meaning - Being successful.
Example - Ram's preparation for the final
exams is going great guns. He scored 90%
marks in the practice test.
78. Dead in the water -
Meaning - Plan or project that has ceased to
function and is not expected to be re-
activated in future.
Example - Because of the revolt from the
civil society, the plan to get the FDI in
various sectors is now dead in the water.
79. Flying start -
Meaning - Something that is immediately
successful.
Example - The film hit the box office with a
flying start and collected the highest revenue
on day 1.
80. Make a go of -
Meaning - Succeeding in your enterprise.
Example - With his hard work and
dedication, he has made a go of his new
venture.
81. Go to the dogs -
Meaning - Getting comparably less
successful than before.
Example - With new corruption scams un-
veiling every day, the country is going to
dogs.
81. Go up in smoke -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Something that ends before
getting a result.
Example - With a vigilant police force
around the town, the plan of antisocial
elements to cause chaos went up in smoke.
82. Live on the breadline -
Meaning - Having very little income.
Example - The partition of the country has
left many people on the breadline.
83. Make or break -
Meaning - Circumstances causing total
success or total ruin.
Example - The huge investments in this big
project with make or break him.
84. Landslide victory -
Meaning - Overwhelming victory received
by a candidate of political party at an
election. Example - With a win of more of
than 40% seats in the first two hours of
counting, they are expecting a landslide
victory.
85. Let slip through fingers -
Meaning - Failing to obtain or keep up a goo
d opportunity.
Example - This opportunity can be your
break through in the industry.
Don't let it slip through your fingers.
32
86. Rags to riches -
Meaning - Becoming very rich while starting
very poor.
Example - His innovative ideas in business
got him from rags to riches.
87. On the pig's back -
Meaning - Refers to a person in successful
and well situation.
Example - The tourism in the state was on
the pig's back before the terror attacks hit the
capital.
88. Miss the boat -
Meaning - Failing to take advantage of an
opportunity because of slow actions.
Example - I managed to get a discount of 10
% but could not get an early bird offer.
Reaching late made me miss the boat.
89. Smash hit -
Meaning - Refers to music, films which are
very successful. Example - His music
became a smash hit in a week's time.
90. Murphy's law -
Meaning - Means that if anything can go
wrong, it will.
Example - Let's be prepared for the worst
but don't forget the Murphy's law.
91. Place in the sun -
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous)
Meaning - Finding a place in the sun refers
to a position which provides you all the
success and happiness you want in your life.
Example - Getting married into the
renowned business family in the town, she
found a place in the sun.
92. Sink or swim -
Meaning - fails or succeed.
Example - The test will decide if he sinks or
swims.
93. Champagne on a beer budget -
Meaning - Wanting expensive things that
you cannot afford.
Example - She always buys things out of her
budget. She has developed a taste for
champagne on beer budget.
94. Top dog -
Meaning - Very successful group, company,
person, country etc.
Example - The economic survey proved that
they are the top dogs of the IT industry.
95. Keep up appearances -
Meaning - Maintaining an outward show of
prosperity or well-
being while hiding your difficulties
Example - Keeping up the appearances was
important for him to secure the new big
projects.
96. Wooden spoon -
33
Meaning - Imaginary prize for the last
person in a race.
Example - We won a wooden spoon at the
Fashion show.

97. Have the world by its tail -

Meaning - Very successful person who can
choose from a lot of opportunities.
Example - Being the pioneers in the pharma
ceutical industry, they are now having the
world by its tail.

98. Live beyond means -

Meaning - Spending more money than you
can afford.
Example - He has a habit of living beyond
his means. Most of the times, you will find
him borrowing the money from his friends.

99. Live in an ivory tower -

Meaning - Living a lifestyle that saves you
from the real world problems.
Example - Her inexperience in dealing with
tough situations is because she has lived in
an ivory tower

100. Hit the road running -

Meaning - Start performing immediately.
Example - She was our old employee. She
hit the road running when she joined us back.

“Success is dependent on
Effort .”
------ Sophocles
© Mr. Ramkrishna Mitra Verbal Ability & Soft Skills Trainer, MITS (UGC Autonomous) 34